Archive for October, 2016

In these times, in all civilised countries governments and civic organisations strive for the educations of all, boys and girls, men and women. The right to education is respected by all and people are doing their best to uplift women socially who have been victims for thousands of years of gender discrimination and servile existence.

Even in the third world countries, most of people recognise the importance of the education of girls, As a result, we all witness some good progress made in the positive direction. Unluckily, there are also some people in traditional societies who oppose the social uplift of women in society. They want to keep women tied to the old customs and traditions. The only justification for their opposition to women’s education and their adamant opposition to the equality of opportunities to women in all walks of life as full human beings is rooted in deep ignorance and the patriarchal norms of male domination. Somehow, such people also misuse religion for their vicious struggle against women’s worthy existence.

As I see it, all sane people in Pakistan feel proud that a young girl, Malala Yousafzai, who became a victim of violence at the hands of some ignorant terrorists but recovered and has stood for the right to education of all girls. She is a brave girl. What she stands for is in the best traditions of the heroic figures who become symbols for humane causes and people’s struggles.

The reactionaries and ignorant people have their mentors, their barbarian perspectives and their terrorist methods. But the people who want to see a third world society where both men and women can contribute to social progress and universal norms of civilised behaviour see the work of Malala Yousufzai as an inspiration and a way forward.

“They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason.”

― American author and journalist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
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At a time when the military alliance of European countries and the U.S. are poised on hurling the world in the inferno of World War III, a war in which obviously both the conventional and thermonuclear weapons will be used, Hemingway’s words of wisdom are a timely reminder to the imperialist dogs of war and also the ordinary people around the world.

The civil war in Syria should not be used as a pretext to start a war against Russia. Instead, every effort should be made to de-escalate the Syrian crisis. Both the U.S and Russia should engage in a constructive dialogue and sincerely cooperate with each other and the parties involved to bring to an end the tragic situation in Syria.

We who are peace activists should oppose all warmongers, expose their dangerous war strategies and their militaristic jingoism. We should inform the people of the dangers of a great annihilation.

The Twin Towers in New York did fall on 9/11. In fact, the third high building, not far from the twin towers, also mysteriously fell without any plane crashing into it on the same day.

There are two main versions of the tragic happening. First, the official version that has come to be generally accepted by many. The second one does not accept the official version and offers its own explanations. However, I am not getting into any discussion here to argue which version is more reliable than the other. One thing is clear: The tragic event happened on American soil and a foreign country was punished for it that had no hand in 9/11.

No one in American Government (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell) accused the government of President of Saddam Hussain of Iraq or any Iraqi being involved in the events of 9/11. But in 2003 the Bush administration unleashed its destructive war on an innocent country without any reason.

Why did American government commit this unnecessary war of aggression that destroyed this major Arab country and brought unmentionable misery on its people from which Iraq has not been able to recover even after 13 years? Iraq is in shambles.

I have no answer. I think, no sane person in the world has any remotely justifiable reason for this barbarous war of aggression. Neither can anyone claim that Iraqi oil and U.S. hegemony were justifiable policy decisions of the U.S. rulers.

Despite Indian army’s blinding of hundreds of Kashmiri youth and terrorising millions of Kashmiris in the recent weeks, there is only one outcry that is reverberating throughout the Kashmir Valley: Azadi, Azadi (Freedom, Freedom) from the Indian occupation of Kashmir.

Instead of heeding to the demands of the people who have ipso facto rejected the Indian rule, the Indian government is resorting to the same old methods it has used since 1947 and expects the people will forget what they have been demanding for the last seven decades. This is a myopic political game. It has not worked in the past. It will not work in the future.

The ongoing military skirmishes along the Line of Control are meant to divert the world attention from the major issue that India is facing in Kashmir and refusing to accede to people’s demands. A wise leadership in Delhi will look at the issue from a different angle now with a view to find a solution to the old conflict we inherited because of the Partition of British India in 1947.

The fate of the State of Jammu and Kashmir was decided by military power, shabby deals and false promises of holding plebiscite that would allow the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide their future. What is needed now is not military confrontation and warmongering. A new war is not going to solve the Kashmir issue. India and Pakistan have already fought two wars because of the Kashmir conflict. Did they solve the Kashmir issue? They did not. Any new military confrontation will prove to be even more destructive and totally futile. Hurling poor soldiers, both Indians and Pakistanis, in the kiln of war and killing innocent people will hardly have any positive consequences. The Kashmir conflict will not disappear even if they unleash a third war. The Kashmir conflict has to be addressed politically and with good will a negotiated settlement is possible.

The people of India and Pakistan were not born to be the enemies of each other. The toxic propaganda by the rulers of the two states has been instrumental in creating enmity between the people of the two countries. Religious and political extremists and hate-mongers in both countries have also poisoned the minds of millions of people.

However, it is a fact that the people of the two countries belong to the same broad culture of the Subcontinent. They look very much the same. For example, a Pakistani Punjabi, whether a Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Christian is not different from an Indian Punjabi, whether a Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or Christian. They are very much the same people. If they were left to themselves they will get on well with each other as they did before the Partition of 1947.

As a secular person in matters of State and a humanist in relation to all Believers and others, I appeal to the political leaders of India and Pakistan to follow the path of peace, stop sabre rattling, and avoid provoking nationalist and religious passions of the people. Nothing good will ever come out of cheap emotionalism.

Every political realist knows that the Kashmir Conflict is not so easy either. The parties have to take into account many factors in finding a workable, equitable and acceptable solution. This can only be done when the rulers of India and Pakistan take concrete steps to seek a solution to the conflict by letting the people of Jammu and Kashmir decide their own future. This way of dealing with the issue has the potential to make India and Pakistan as close partners in trade, education, joint projects for the welfare of the people of the region instead of using enormous resources on military and military hardware.